Ad demands Johnston's release

Senior executives and leading broadcast and print journalists have called for the immediate release of BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston in a full-page ad published in today's Guardian.

The ad, organised by the BBC and placed in the MediaGuardian section, has 300 signatories, including Sir David Frost, BBC director general Mark Thompson, CNN chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour, Jon Snow, Jeremy Paxman, John Humphrys and Sir Trevor McDonald.

Virtually every UK national newspaper editor has signed, including the Guardian's Alan Rusbridger, the Times' Robert Thomson and the Sunday Times' John Witherow; the Sunday Telegraph's Patience Wheatcroft and the Daily Telegraph's Will Lewis; the Daily Mail's Paul Dacre; and the Daily Mirror's Richard Wallace.

The ad is also backed by the ITV News editor-in-chief, David Mannion; the director of BBC news, Helen Boaden; the BBC director of radio, Jenny Abramsky; Channel 4 controller of news and current affairs Dorothy Byrne; head of Sky News John Ryley; and the Channel 4 director of television content, Kevin Lygo.

"It's now been 21 days since Alan was abducted and we have still not received firm word about his whereabouts or his condition ... We ask again that everyone with influence on this situation increase their efforts, to ensure that Alan is freed quickly and unharmed."

The BBC has had no contact with Mr Johnston since mid-March and it is believed he has been kidnapped, although no demands have been made public.

Palestinian journalists are planning a rally and a boycott of coverage of government activities to press for his release.

Mr Johnston has lived and worked in Gaza for the past three years. He joined the BBC World Service in 1991 and has spent eight of the past 16 years as a correspondent, including periods in Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.

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